The South Carolina Anti-Kickback Statute is a law that was enacted to prohibit individuals or entities from directly or indirectly offering, paying, soliciting, or receiving any form of remuneration in exchange for referring an individual to a person or entity for the furnishing of any item or service for which payment may be made in whole or in part by a health care program. This includes Medicare, Medicaid, and TRI CARE. This statute applies to any health care related services, such as services provided by doctors, hospitals, nursing homes, home health care providers, and laboratories. The statute also applies to any health care related insurance plans, such as health maintenance organizations (HMO's) and preferred provider organizations (PPO's). The South Carolina Anti-Kickback Statute has two types: (1) the Federal Anti-Kickback Statute, and (2) the South Carolina Anti-Kickback Statute. The Federal Anti-Kickback Statute prohibits any person or entity from offering, paying, soliciting, or receiving any remuneration in exchange for referrals for the furnishing of any item or service for which payment may be made in whole or in part by a federal health care program. The South Carolina Anti-Kickback Statute prohibits any person or entity from offering, paying, soliciting, or receiving any remuneration in exchange for referrals for the furnishing of any item or service for which payment may be made in whole or in part by a state health care program. Both statutes impose stiff penalties for violations.